Index

Identification:

There are only three species of all black terns in our region.
The Black Tern
is smaller than the two species of noddy terns, and they have white
underwings. Non-breeding Black Terns are not entirely black. Of the two
noddy terns, the Black Noddy is smaller (14-15 inches; 35-39 cm, total
length) than the Brown Noddy (16-18 inches; 40-45 cm total length). As
it's name implies this species is darker. It also has a smaller but
longer bill. That said, the two Atlantic noddies would be very
difficult to identify in flight at sea or even when both species are
not available for direct comparison. Note the Brown Noddy in the foreground of the picture above.

Adults

Sexes alike. No seasonal variation. Extensive white cap (more
so than in
Brown Noddy or immature Black Noddy). Live to be 25 years or more.
Voice
distinct from that of Brown Noddy.

Juvenile

Like
adult except less white on crown, whitish forehead and crown sharply
demarcated from black nape. Upper wing coverts and secondaries tipped
with buff giving the back a scaled appearance.

Alternative Common
Names

Systematics

One
of three species of noddy terns (Anous):
two of these occur in the
tropical Atlantic. The Lesser Noddy of the Pacific and Indian Oceans is
sometimes considered conspecific with the Black Noddy. The subspecies
of Black Noddy occurring in Caribbean basin is endemic. There are seven
subspecies of Black Noddy, two of which occurs in the Atlantic, with A. n. americanus
restricted to the Caribbean while A.
n. atlanticus breeds on oceanic islands in the south
Atlantic.

Likely locations

Most
birds roost at their breeding sites throughout the year.

Distribution

Tropical
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. For the most part restricted in our region
to the Caribbean Sea, and rarely in the Gulf of Mexico, possibly in
Gulf Stream. Most birds remain at or near breeding islands throughout
the entire year.

Biology

At
sea

Populations
sedentary remaining at nesting islands throughout year. Rest on flotsam
and ships at sea. Birds also roost on the water, sometimes in rafts.
They feed in
lagoons and inshore (< 10 km from land) over schooling,
predatory fish. Prey include small fish, crustaceans and squid. Birds
dip and plunge at the surface and do not dive. They are diurnal and
return to
land to roost at night.

At
the nest

Nest
only in bushes and small trees. Typically found nesting with Brown
Noddys. Nests are made of twigs, leafy vegetation grasses or seaweed.
Females lay a single egg, pale buff in color. Incubation period is long
for the size of
the egg: 33-34 days. Fledge in 40-50 days. Parents feed young for
months after fledging.

Current Population

While
the Brown Noddy is one of the most abundant species in the region, the
Black Noddy appears to be the rarest. Formerly nested off Belize where
over 1,000 pairs were reported. In Florida, one or two pairs occur
regularly and may nest on Dry Tortugas. In Anguilla (Sombero)
1-6
pairs; Puerto Rico, Culebra, Noroeste Cay, “a few;” Aruba “a few.”
Islands off Venezuela, probably hundreds or pairs. Total North Atlantic
population probably between 100 and 300 pairs. South Atlantic (A. m. atlanticus)
population small but secure.

Location

Year

Low
Estimate

High Estimate

Culebra

1999

1

5

Sombrero

1989

1

6

Aves
(Central Caribbean)

2005

1

10

Los
Roques

2005

44

60

Las
Aves (Venezuela Coast)

2005

1

10

Bonaire

1984

0

10

Lago
Reef

2001

48

48

Total

96

149

Conservation Status

While
this species also occurs in the Pacific and south Atlantic it is
extremely rare in the North Atlantic. The only major known colony was
off Belize. It was first discovered in 1862 and supported over 1000
nesting pairs. This colony disappeared prior to 1970. The Black Noddy
is considered as critically endangered in the West Indies (Schreiber
and Lee 2000).

Conservation Needs

Protection
of nesting islands, including patrols, enforcement, and monitoring for
exotic mammals (predators and browsing species). Cats and rats have
been shown to cause declines in Pacific populations.

Other
populations (Pacific) have responded favorably as native vegetation
regenerates, and negatively when habitat is altered. Not particularly
impacted by human activity such as brief visitation to colonies.
However, visitations to islands by tourists, boaters and fishermen
needs to be controlled. The extent of modern day egging in most of
the West Indies remains unknown and because of the small size of the
regional population any factor that could possibly impact these terns
need to be considered.

Periodic
surveys of nesting colonies are needed to document changes in
numbers of breeding pairs.

Little
information available on this species in the region. Surveys of Brown
Noddy colonies for individual pairs of nesting Black Noddys would be
helpful, including reporting information that no Black Noddys were
encountered.

Because
of its behavior at sea and its rarity, it is unlikely that this species
will be encountered by commercial fisheries operations.

Compiled
by: Dave Lee and Will Mackin

West
Indian Breeding Seabird Atlas by Will
Mackin and David Lee is licensed
under a Creative
Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States
License. Based on
work at www.wicbirds.net.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.wicbirds.net.